We started out on our "second tour of lights", leaving Paradise, MI for the Tahquamenon Falls, then back to Paradise to catch the road up to Whitefish Point, back to Paradise to visit a craft/yarn shop and then off to Crisp Point and beyond. The "beyond" part was interesting, we had, on our itinerary, the Grand Marias Range Lights and the Au Sable point light. On the way, the gravel county roads we were on soon became wooded trails of two ruts. At one point, Bill had to exercise all his Sahara driving skills to negotiate the deep, sandy ruts with the rental Caddie and deposit us back on a proper asphalt road to Grand Marais. Unfortunately, Michigan road repair projects extend up to the U.P. and the detour was daunting enough to make us turn tail and head for home (with a brief stop at the Jolly Inn to celebrate my birthday). The visits to Whitefish Point and Crisp Point were well worth the adventure. |
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The grounds at Whitefish Point are pretty extensive and a good tourist attraction, the place was fairly jumping during our visit despite it being a weekday and somewhat out of season (we found many lighthouses closed for the season the week before). There is the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, a couple of gift shops, crews' quarters with overnight stay rentals, a bird sanctuary headquarters/gift shop and of course, the Whitefish Point Light. |
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The building attached to the light housed the keeper and the assistant keeper, divided lengthwise for the privacy of the two households. further to the left is the building where a video is shown on the recovery of the Edmund Fitzgerald's bell. |
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In the museum, along with the many shipwreck artifacts, stands a spectacular second order bivalve Fresnel lens. |
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The very bell. |
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The construction of the tower makes it easy to hug, I approve of the design. |
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We loaded up on souvenirs and headed off to Crisp Point. This was particularly special to me, I never expected to ever see Crisp Point in person. I first heard of it at the Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival some years ago. Because of the remoteness and distance from home I figured I'd be the only one in the family interested in it and knocked it off my "to do list". Surprise! Lois and Lynn planned an itinerary for our vacation around visiting lighthouses along with the fall color touring. Since we were already in the U.P., well… |
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The gravel roads leading to the lighthouse seemed to go on forever but, finally, I saw the tower of the Crisp Point light appearing over the trees. We checked out the renovation efforts and took a bunch of pictures. I was so tickled to be here, that I gave the light a big hug. |
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Then I gave Lois a hug. |
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For all that Crisp Point has been through, it's still looking good. More information can been found at the Crisp Point Light Historical Society web site. |
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